TNAG-1313-FCO40-1688-Future-of-Hong-Kong-views-and-involvement-of-Australia--Cana-1984 — Page 75

CONFIDENTIAL

از یادم

serious consequences for South African policy in the region and for President Botha's own standing.

7

Botswana and Lesotho have both come under considerable pressure

in the last six months to sign security agreements with South

Africa. Both have resisted them. We have intervened on a number of

occasions with the South African Government to urge moderation of

South African pressures, particuarly on Lesotho. The South Africans recently released various quantities of arms, including some

supplied by the UK, held in South African ports en route to Lesotho. We had specifically requested this move.

8 Namibia: In a major development in September, the MPLA

government put forward proposals for Cuban troop withdrawal, thus

accepting in effect the linkage between Cubans and a Namibia settlement. The Americans have since put these proposals to the

South African Government. It is clear that the South Africans

regard them as an opening bid and will produce counter proposals.

Further possibly protracted negotiations can be expected.

CONFIDENTIAL

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FALKLAND ISLANDS

ESSENTIAL FACTS